JONESBORO, ARK. — Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Monday that 16 individuals were arrested in a targeted retail theft operation in Jonesboro last week, part of the state’s broader push to combat organized retail crime.
Griffin said police also identified five additional suspects who remain at large. The arrests resulted in more than 60 charges—approximately half of them felonies. In Arkansas, theft of over $1,000 in goods qualifies as a felony, with felony class depending on the total value of stolen merchandise.
The suspects also face additional charges, including drug possession, evidence tampering, and forgery, according to Griffin.
Impacted retailers in the crackdown included major chains such as Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Dollar Tree, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Academy Sports, Kohl’s, and Burlington Coat Factory.
“This operation shows our continued commitment to eradicating this type of crime in Arkansas,” Griffin said. “We are working with law enforcement and private sector partners across the state to gather intelligence, arrest perpetrators, and ultimately hold bad actors accountable.”
The arrests in Jonesboro come amid recent legislative changes in Arkansas aimed at toughening penalties for retail and cargo theft. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed measures enhancing sentences for cargo theft and creating frameworks to prosecute organized retail crime more aggressively.
Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association, praised the legislative package, calling it a meaningful step toward disrupting retail crime that spans from store shelves to transport networks.
Since prioritizing organized retail crime in 2023, Griffin’s office reports that more than $600,000 in stolen goods have been recovered and 44 suspects arrested.
The attorney general also highlighted a separate recent case involving Sasha Rena Ziegler, 32, of Little Rock. Ziegler, who had been wanted on a warrant for multiple organized retail theft incidents at a Marshalls store, surrendered to authorities last week and now faces two Class D felony theft charges.
The Jonesboro Police Department has not yet responded to media requests for further details on last week’s arrests.
